Alliances Germany aligned itself with Italy and Austria-Hungary, a huge empire that controlled most of southeastern Europe. They became known as the Triple Alliance. The new alliance worried the Russian leaders who thought that Germany would try to expand east into Russia. Russia and Austria-Hungary were also competing for the southeastern territory of Europe. France and Russia had a common interest in opposing Germany and Austria-Hungary. Therefore in 1894 they signed the Franco-Russian Alliance.
Germany aligned itself with Italy and Austria-Hungary, a huge empire that controlled most of southeastern Europe. They became known as the Triple Alliance. The new alliance worried the Russian leaders who thought that Germany would try to expand east into Russia. Russia and Austria-Hungary were also competing for the southeastern territory of Europe. France and Russia had a common interest in opposing Germany and Austria-Hungary. Therefore in 1894 they signed the Franco-Russian Alliance.